Russian President Vladimir Putin made headlines, when he expressed his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The comments, made at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, follow Putin’s earlier backing of President Joe Biden in the 2020 race. Putin stated that since Biden recommended Harris, Russia would follow suit and, emphasizing that the ultimate decision lies with the American people.
Watch endorsement of Harris here.
Putin’s comments come on the heels of accusations by U.S. officials that Russia has been involved in efforts to influence the upcoming election. The Justice Department recently accused Russia of participating in schemes to spread pro-Russian propaganda in the U.S., sparking concerns over foreign interference.
In an interview earlier this month, a Kremlin spokesperson described Harris as a more predictable opponent compared to former President Donald Trump, who has been notably lenient on Russia throughout his political career. In that same interview the spokesperson for the Krelim doubted President Trump could bring an end to the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. Putin himself joked about Harris’s “infectious” laughter, suggesting that her humor might mean she wouldn’t impose sanctions on Russia.
Despite Putin’s claims, U.S. intelligence has consistently pointed to Russian interference in US elections. Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, quickly rejected any endorsement from foreign leaders, stating that the campaign opposed interference of any kind.
